portrait of Scott Anderson

Scott Anderson's career highlights:

  • Baystreet Grill (Edison, NJ)
  • Teresa Caffe (Princeton, NJ)
  • Nova Terra (New Brunswick, NJ)
  • Mediterra (Denver, CO and Princeton, NJ)
  • Les Copains (Princeton, NJ)
  • Ryland Inn (Whitehouse Station, NJ)
  • Lawrenceville Inn (Lawrenceville, NJ)
  • elements (Princeton, NJ)

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Scott Anderson

Chef Owner

"Opening a restaurant isn't new. But opening a restaurant that aims to be new over and over is new," says the smiling, engaging Chef Owner Scott Anderson, about elements, the restaurant he and Stephen Distler opened October of 2008 on Route 206 in Princeton, NJ.

The name is significant: the restaurant will draw on diverse resources, but will look at each element of its palette for direction. Local produce as well as worldwide cooking styles will influence his work. "It's almost like you're listening to the ingredients," says Scott. For this reason, a meal at elements will always be an event.

True to the ingredients, and to its name, elements will feature simple-to-understand chords of flavors constantly reinterpreted. The chef wants to remain open to inspiration and the mood of the moment. A green salad with citrus would not be exactly the same twice, nor would it appear the same way every time you order it. The best analogy is that of a jazz musician who constantly riffs on melodies to keep each experience fresh. Instead, true to the ingredients, and to its name, elements will feature simple-to-understand chords of flavors constantly reinterpreted.

We call it "Interpretative American Cuisine," because we think of our dishes as canvases and paint what feels right, while staying grounded in the essence of the ingredients. The Chef is giving similar creative latitude to his Sous Chef Joe Sparatta and the team in the kitchen.

 

News

ChuckEats on elements
Chuck's unique take on elements
Elements is very much a restaurant in the Michel Bras vein, arguably more exciting than anything in New York City (well, I do love that Keste pizza.) While it may not have all of the three-star refined touches of Jean Georges or Per Se, it does have an identity and focus that neither of those restaurants, or others, can lay claim to. There are rough edges here and there that serve more as character than flaws. If the restaurant continues to develop under Chef Scott Anderson, and this report one year later suggests it has, it will grow into a solid two-star quality restaurant shortly...

Read the entire post here.

(posted on 07/28/2010)
elements selected to 25 best restaurants in New Jersey
The NJ Monthly 2010 best list is out
elements is proud to be selected among the 25 best restaurants in New Jersey by NJ Monthly.

(posted on 07/28/2010)
restaurant review - New York Times
Locally Rooted Flavors that Belie Their Setting
WHEN you make a last-minute dinner reservation for a Saturday night, you take what you can get. At Elements in Princeton, we were offered two seats at the four-seat bar for an hour before another party was scheduled to claim them. We took them, gambling that there would be a no-show. We lost.

(posted on 05/10/2010)
elements Chosen One of Thirty Most Important US Restaurants
Survey conducted by Opinionated About Dining
elements was selected from thousands of US Restaurants as one of the thirty most important restaurants through a survey of 1900 participants. Read the entire survey here.

(posted on 02/09/2010)
US Route 1 newspaper profiles elements restaurant
Serving Up Love: 9 Ways to Get Closer
The Foodie

This one's a no-brainer. Book the chef's table at elements. Make sure Joe Sparatta, the sous chef is going to be there and his lovely wife, Emilia, who is the sommelier. Tucked away from the rest of the restaurant, the chef's table (there are actually two) is situated in its own nook with a full view of the open kitchen, which our writer, Pat Tanner, says runs like a well-oiled machine. read the complete article online here.

(posted on 02/04/2010)
elements: an ivy league education in gastronomy
by Liz Harcharek | Princeton Magazine
Foodies: go no further than elements -- the award-winning restaurant at 163 Bayard Lane -- to graduate summa cum laude from Princeton. Celebrating its one year anniversary this October. elements offers a major in the three 'E's: education, experience and enjoyment.

(posted on 11/06/2009)
elements receives Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 2009
from Wine Spectator
elements is proud to receive this prestigious honor.

(posted on 07/31/2009)
elements selected in New Jersey Monthly 25 Best Restaurants of 2009
from New Jersey Monthly
Squeezed by rising food costs and customers cutting back, restaurants are trying harder than ever to please. The best of the best provide exceptional food, service, andambience at every price level—affordable luxury for lean times.

(posted on 07/31/2009)

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